A convicted sex offender and neighbor of Ariel Castro has been arrested after DNA connected him to a 20-year-old rape case.

Elias Acevedo, 49, was arrested this morning in the 2300 block of Seymour Avenue, Cleveland, just a stone's throw away from where Amanda Berry, Gina DeJesus and Michelle Knight were held captive for more than a decade and subjected to horrifying abuse.

Peter Elliott, U.S. Marshal for the Northern District of Ohio, said they were able to indict him on the strength of rape-kit DNA evidence three days before the 20-year statute of limitations would have expired.

Elias Acevedo, 49, was arrested this morning in the 2300 block of Seymour Avenue, Cleveland, just a stone's throw away from where Amanda Berry, Gina DeJesus and Michelle Knight were held captive for more than a decade

Neighbors: Elias Acevedo lived in the 2300 block on Seymour Avenue while Ariel Castro's 'house of horrors' was at 2207 Seymour Avenue

He said they do not know if Acevedo knew his neighbor Ariel Castro, who is scheduled to be arraigned tomorrow on 139 counts of rape, 177 counts of kidnapping, seven counts of gross sexual imposition, three of felonious assault and one of possession of criminal tools.

He will plead not guilty.

Acevedo has
prior convictions for sexual battery, receiving stolen property and
breaking and entering. He remains in jail and is scheduled for
arraignment June 20.